First reaction: UMass to the MAC

[DanaDingle3]

I expect my in person attendance will increase for hockey, but decrease for football and hoops.

That's too bad. Should've cut football. What a totally misguided and uninteresting drain on resources.

[minutefanjsf]

I expect my in person attendance will increase for hockey, but decrease for football and hoops.

That's too bad. Should've cut football. What a totally misguided and uninteresting drain on resources.

Cut football? FBS actually utilizes fewer resources than FCS.

[DanaDingle3]

Yes, cut football. We all know FCS is a bad option. Should've cut football.

[JoleonLescottsHair]

I expect my in person attendance will increase for hockey, but decrease for football and hoops.

That's too bad. Should've cut football. What a totally misguided and uninteresting drain on resources.

Cut football? FBS actually utilizes fewer resources than FCS.

He said cut football, not go to FCS, although I
join others in waiting to see the actual FBS v FCs P&L statement. It gets repeated as truth, but..::

[DEM]

Regardless of my opinion, there was not one single move (available to them) that would have satisfied everyone. At the very least they did something besides kick the can down the road this time - and I think that has to be acknowledged as positive overall.

I agree, this is a positive move overall. UMass wasn't choosing between Big 10 and MAC, it was a choice between A10 and MAC (and possibly Conference USA). While the MAC may not have the same basketball history, the A10 is in decline, and I don't think the MAC would hold a good UMass basketball program back - in fact, there are a handful of MAC basketball programs whose accomplishments over the past decade or two that we should envy. The reality is that the A10 affiliation, in its current form, has done very little for our program.

Additionally, UMass is becoming more and more of a misfit in the A10. Do we have more in common with private institutions that predominantly make up the A10 like St. Bonaventure and LaSalle, or the public institutions of the MAC like Buffalo and Ohio U?

Change is tough, and the A-10 has its advantages, but considering all aspects of the current situation, to me this move seems like a no-brainer for the athletic program.

[doubledribble]

Myself and many others would agree with your “no brainer” assessment but in a different sense.

[Sheck]

Everyone on the respective UMass FB pages losing their mind over this.

Also is this for real?

https://fxtwitter.com/ctrav24/status/17 ... 0875446782

[JoleonLescottsHair]

…the A10 is in decline

Please elaborate.

[McKinney]

https://getsomemaction.com/news/2024/2/ ... ember.aspx

The official website of the MAC is "getsomemaction.com"? They've pitched their entire public identity on fun midweek gambling of #MACtion. They couldn't afford to buy maction.com from some small consulting shop in India?

It's kind of a random note, but that's sort of in line with how I'm feeling about this whole move. Feels like we're settling.

Get why they did it, but yeah.

[eldonabe]

…the A10 is in decline

Please elaborate.

I am not sure the A-10 is in decline, but it is evolving in a different direction than Umass is. It is a basketball-centric conference - period. I guess you could refer to it as the Big East-Lite.

What is unfortunate about all of this is that Umass should have probably done this 8 years ago, and today we would be talking about moving to AAC or some other better conference rather than a 12 year floundering until they finally got their feet wet.

I am on record as NOT a fan of the MAC, but Umass had to do something / anything.... they did "anything". If they can parlay this into an overall upgrade in 5-7 years, then it was a great call. If it is 2035 and they are still in the MAC - that is a failure.

Lets grab some popcorn....

[Floyd]

And here I thought the end of hoop season would end on a high note. theres always something

[bunkerhill87]

…the A10 is in decline

Please elaborate.

I am not sure the A-10 is in decline, but it is evolving in a different direction than Umass is. It is a basketball-centric conference - period. I guess you could refer to it as the Big East-Lite.

What is unfortunate about all of this is that Umass should have probably done this 8 years ago, and today we would be talking about moving to AAC or some other better conference rather than a 12 year floundering until they finally got their feet wet.

I am on record as NOT a fan of the MAC, but Umass had to do something / anything.... they did "anything". If they can parlay this into an overall upgrade in 5-7 years, then it was a great call. If it is 2035 and they are still in the MAC - that is a failure.

Lets grab some popcorn....

Yup!!! Feeling the same

[stevemaz]

Please elaborate.

I am not sure the A-10 is in decline, but it is evolving in a different direction than Umass is. It is a basketball-centric conference - period. I guess you could refer to it as the Big East-Lite.

What is unfortunate about all of this is that Umass should have probably done this 8 years ago, and today we would be talking about moving to AAC or some other better conference rather than a 12 year floundering until they finally got their feet wet.

I am on record as NOT a fan of the MAC, but Umass had to do something / anything.... they did "anything". If they can parlay this into an overall upgrade in 5-7 years, then it was a great call. If it is 2035 and they are still in the MAC - that is a failure.

Lets grab some popcorn....

Yup!!! Feeling the same

You miss 100% of the shots you dont take!

[stevemaz]

I cant say this enough.. there is going to be mass chaos this summer when the SEC announces they are adding Florida State, Clemson, and 2 others. we may never play a single game as a MAC school...

[Merlin Samuels]

…the A10 is in decline

Please elaborate.

Bids are declining. This season it’s Dayton and possibly one other if they’re a bid thief in the A10 tournament. There are no A10 bubble teams.

Davidson’s longtime coach retired. It’s yet to be seen if the new guy at VCU can keep the program at its standard. Loyola is not the Final 4 Loyola of yesteryear.

It’s ironic the A10’s flagship is in…. Ohio!